The national media’s take on Liverpool’s 6-1 hammering of Sparta Prague as the Reds reach the last eight of the Europa League with an 11-2 aggregate scoreline
Liverpool charged into the last eight of the Europa League with a 6-1 demolition of Sparta Prague at Anfield on Thursday.
The resounding victory saw the Reds through 11-2 on aggregate after a 5-1 hammering the previous week in the Czech capital as goals from Bobby Clark, Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Dominik Szoboszlai and a brace from Cody Gakpo took the Reds up to 117 across all competitions this term.
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Paul Joyce, The Times: “There have been many storied goalscorers at Liverpool down the years – Billy Liddell, Roger Hunt, Ian Rush et al – though it is Mohamed Salah who continues to break new ground.
“An accomplished finish created a slice of history during a cakewalk last night as he became the first player for the club to plunder 20 goals in seven successive seasons.
“If progress beyond an abject Sparta Prague and into the Europa League quarter-finals is best remembered for being a breeze, the hosts 4-0 up in the blink of an eye, then Salah’s hard work remains deserving of recognition, too.
“It is a sequence that bears testament to his availability and consistency but also his ruthlessness amid debates on whether he should even be classed as a striker given his starting position on the right of Jurgen Klopp’s front three.
“Ticking off landmarks appeals to Salah’s competitive streak and his creative juices were also evident on what was his first start since January 1 as Liverpool cantered into today’s draw when favouritism to add another trophy to last month’s Carabao Cup success will suit.”
Chris Bascombe, The Telegraph: “This brutal demolition of Sparta put one in mind of an FA Cup Third Round tie in which plucky but naive non-leaguers swiftly realise they will take home their memories of having played in such a venue, but little else.
“Sparta did at least provide an outright winner in this year’s optimist of the year competition. Take a bow Sparta striker Veljko Birmancevic. One can only admire the inner belief that prompted him to dash after the ball after striking a souvenir goal in front of the Kop shortly before half-time.
“Birmancevic pushed his way past Caoimhin Kelleher, dashed back to the centre-circle, and urged the Portuguese referee to get on with the game so the next stage of the comeback could begin.
“Somewhat inconveniently for his side, they were already 9-2 down on aggregate after their childlike attacking tactics created an evening in which a five minute spell without a goal or chance qualified as a ‘lull’.
“If Manchester United players were hoping Liverpool would be over-exerted before Sunday’s FA Cup tie, they would have switched off after a few minutes. They must prepare themselves for two days of the intense Erik Ten Hag defensive drills that kept an Anfield clean sheet in December.”
Lewis Steele, the Daily Mail: “To compare their trophy charge to a horse on the week of the Cheltenham festival, Liverpool have been heavily handicapped, not to mention a rippling injury crisis across the team
“But with trainer Jurgen Klopp striving for greatness whoever is in the XI – ‘it’s not about who plays, it’s how they play,’ he often says – Liverpool are still flying.
“That, though, can surely only get better now Salah is fully fit. His goal and a hat-trick of assists against Sparta Prague in this 6-1 thrashing just sent a reminder of his unique talents and importance to this team.
“His goal took his tally to 20 for the season for the seventh successive campaign. No player in the illustrious history of Liverpool has done that, further underlining his case as one of the greatest players to grace the Anfield turf.
“It must have also sent shockwaves to Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta ahead of the final stretch of the season, not to mention Erik ten Hag ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford in the FA Cup on Sunday.”
Ian Doyle, the Liverpool ECHO: “That early flurry of goals meant that, as Klopp later admitted, it ultimately proved a strange if enjoyable evening at Anfield. And it could well be the final time of his reign that Liverpool will be able to take their foot off the gas, even if only for a half.
“Certainly, the intensity will be ramped up on Sunday with the FA Cup trip to Old Trafford, with the Reds’ raft of half-time changes highlighting one eye was already firmly on that mouthwatering assignment.
